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Amanuensis Monday: Henry Weaver's personal WWI letters

Biographies

A private in the 2/1 Bucks Battalion, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, during the Great War, my great-grandfather, Henry (Harry) James Weaver appears to have written home regularly and three of his letters to his wife, sent in August and September 1916, still survive.

"...I have been issued out with some bandages if I should get wounded, what they call first aid field dressing, but I hope I shall never want to use it..."

"...I hope Lovie Dear we shall have a pleasant voyage across the Channel, I do hope I shant be Sea-sick..."

"...Oh Dearie what a meeting it will be if I am spared to come home safe to you after the war is over, My Dear Baby will be quite big by that time, I hope you will get on alright when Baby is born..."

"...it is very hot here in France & the roads are so dusty, we see plenty of Soldiers here & they call the Germans Frits, a new name for them..."

"...we are going through a weeks training here at the base, so I am sure we shall soon be going up in the trenches which is many miles from here, they say it is a 2 days journey..."

"...I may say the money here is strange to me, for an English shilling is worth 1/2, I dare say I shall get used to it if I am here long enough..."

"...a lot of my Chums have gone up in the firing line, & I dare say by the time you get this letter I shall be up there too..."

"...My Dear, when you write to me again, would you kindly send me on an addressed envelope in ink, as I have only pencil..."

"...Now My Dear I must tell you I have been in the Trenches, but of course I must not tell you where I am, but as long as you know I am quite well that is really good news for you..."

"...I have come across a lot of my Chums who were with me on Salisbury Plain, & it did seem good to see them, I may tell you My Dear we are out of the Trenches for 8 days rest, then we shall have to go back again..."

"...we shall all be very glad when this terrible war is over, it looks brighter for us now Roumania has joined in on our side & now I think Greece will soon come in..."

"...I have you in my thoughts night & day, for I know this is a very anxious time for you, & you know too well how much I Love and care for you..."